A computer system memory is structured as contiguous memory chunks, each chunk having a header. A chunk header includes a first offset value, a sign bit associated with the first offset value, and a number of bits having values that are added to a second offset value that is determined from the first offset value. In particular, the actual offset value can be determined by adding the values of the bits to the second offset value and by multiplying the result by the binary equivalent of four. The second offset value is then used for determining an actual offset value that is applied to a base address to provide a memory location of the memory chunk.